Hernando de Soto (and team), very convincingly make the case that capital, and the freedom of the poor, is merely to establishing the systems necessary for true property rights. Of course, this is easier said than done as the author thoroughly outlines what proper steps that are necessary and required to accomplish.



One of the true insights to the text, and which most of us misunderstand, is the concept and the meaning of `capital' in its true sense and how it is actually created in a non-western economy. Karl Marx, the philosopher and political economist knew probably better than Adam Smith, to paraphrase, that capital - "in themselves, money and commodities are no more capital than are the means of production - they want transformation into capital."



This conversion of commodities, or property, made to interact in markets, is the key to `capital' as they could express value that otherwise may not have representation. Marx knew that property was vital as it represented much more than just physical attributes. On the other hand, this has given the anti-capitalists a loud and powerful drum to beat of why private property will be placed in the hands of the rich at the expense of the poor.



While there is usually an ounce of truth in any long standing philosophy, it is time the population and social governments stand up to Marx's ghost and promote property rights for the poor.